Opinion | Attacks by Ebola Health Workers in Democratic Republic of Congo

For the publisher:

Re "Ebola outbreak worsens as doctors avoid attacks" (May 20 cover):

I have just returned from Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. You are right to point out the chasm of political mistrust at the heart of the Ebola crisis, which is much more disturbing and dangerous than realized.

More than 200 people were IInfected since my departure on May 10th. The question now is how to save the situation. We know what does not work: the heavy hand of foreigners accompanied by military escorts.

The International Rescue Committee runs more than 50 health centers in eastern Congo and the recipe for trust is to work from the ground up. This means local recruitments – doctors, nurses, security personnel – recruited from the community and mobilized to defend it. There must be a new partnership where each part of the answer is given to those with real expertise.

This is already the second most serious Ebola outbreak in history. Too many lives are at stake for him to become the greatest.

David Miliband
New York
The author is President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee.

For the publisher:

Your This article presents a devastating portrait of the struggle to contain the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. It is unfortunate that the deep distrust of the affected communities has led to violence and attacks on health facilities and workers. In 2014, during the last maEbola outbreak, in West Africa, similar fears and attacks on himworkers took place.

According to a recent report of Coalition for the Safeguard of Health in Conflict, of which Drexel University is a member, at least 973 attacks against health workers, health facilities, medical transports and patients took place in 23 countries involved in armed conflicts. Immunization workers, paramedics, nurses, doctors, midwives, community volunteers, drivers and guards have all been targeted, in violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. of the man.